Citizens of the Year: Bill and Jennifer Redstreake

By BARBARA LONGCORRESPONDENT

Thursday

Jun 28, 2012 at 12:01 AMJun 28, 2012 at 7:30 AM

For three decades, the Upper Southampton Inter-Service Committee has been recognizing residents who volunteer their time and service in an effort to make the township a better place to live, and Bill and Jennifer Redstreake — 2012 Citizens of the Year — definitely meet the criteria.

“We both grew up in a volunteer family,” Jennifer said. “If someone needed help, you just helped them.”

“We were taught that volunteering was what you did. We don’t do it for the accolades,” said Bill.

The Redstreakes, who have lived in Upper Southampton Township for going on 21 years, have volunteered countless hours to numerous organizations in the community.

Bill and Jennifer became involved with the Cub Scouts along with their sons, Joshua and Jeremy. Bill was Den Leader and Assistant Cub Master, while Jennifer served as Assistant Pack Leader. Both sons are Eagle Scouts.

After volunteering with the Lioness Club, Jennifer became a Lion, joining Bill, who has been with the Southampton-Warminster Area Lions Club for 22 years.

The dynamic duo also served on the Southampton Days Committee, first helping out with setting and cleaning up as well as selling food with the Lions Club. Bill later took on the tasks of Food Chairman and served as President. Both Bill and Jennifer still sell food with the Lions Club at Southampton Days, and Jennifer helps with the Lions 5K run.

Patrick Miller, Chairman of Southampton Days Committee, viewed the Redstreakes’ recognition as well deserved. “They are a great couple, who, in my opinion, dedicated nearly their entire lives to community service in Southampton.”

Friends of the Southampton Library also benefit from the Redstreakes’ largess. Jennifer volunteers at book sales as well as helps with food at the organization’s bazaar, while Bill serves on the board.

About eight years ago, Bill became a member of the Lenape Nation, and now volunteers with the tribe. He makes jewelry as a hobby and sells it, donating all proceeds to the Native American organization.

The Redstreakes’ more recent altruism has been with the Upper Southampton Inter-Service Club, a group that brings together about 17 service organizations to share ideas and ways to cooperate with each other. This past April, Bill and Jennifer attended the annual dinner, expecting to honor other people as the Citizens of the Year winners.

“It was a total surprise,” Jennifer said about winning the award.

Bill remembered that when they heard their names they just looked at each other in shock.

“The Redstreakes are a great selection, as they have done a lot of things for the township and worked with several organizations,” said Al Hertenberg, president of the Upper Southampton Inter-Service Club Committee and past Citizen of the Year honoree.

Hertenberg explained that nominees must be residents of Upper Southampton Township and have volunteered for township or county activities. “All the organizations that belong to the Inter-Service Club Committee are contacted to submit a nomination for Citizen of the Year,” he said, “and often, the nominees are husband and wife duos.”

Previous winners of the Citizen of the Year Award read and discuss nominees’ submissions, and then vote on the winners.

While the couple is a bit embarrassed by all the attention, Jennifer was quick to note, “We do appreciate the recognition. It is an honor.”

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